#1 Tufts vs. #2 Stevenson Update

The North vs. South DIII contest pitting #1 Tufts vs. #2 Stevenson has been postponed but will potentially start by around 9:30 p.m. The game, rescheduled to 8 p.m. at Johnny Unitas Stadium in Towson, Md., was postponed several times due to inclement weather and lightning. Originally it seemed a 9:15 p.m. cutoff time would be established to either reschedule or cancel the game, but as long as both teams are willing to play whenever the situation is deemed safe, this game will still happen tonight.

The contest pitting potentially the best North and best South team in DIII was originally slated to be played at Stevenson's campus in Owings Mills, Md. at 4 p.m. EST on Wednesday. However, the Mustangs are one of the few teams that still plays on a natural grass surface, and after persistent rain for most of the afternoon and evening, the field was damp and exceedingly muddy, said Stevenson SID Jason Eichelberger, posing potentially safety risks as well as completely changing the dynamic of how the game would be played.

WBAL Plus in Baltimore planned to air the Tufts vs. Stevenson contest on tape delay at 8 p.m. Wednesday night. When the contest was moved from Stevenson to Towson, WBAL attempted to broadcast live, thus changing the start time to 8 p.m., said Eichelberger.

Prior to the scheduled 8 p.m. start, lightning in the area created initial delays, with each subsequent lighting delay pushing the start time back an additional 30 minutes approximately. A cut off time of 9:15 was established, Inside Lacrosse had heard, but officials have allowed for a large window to potentially play the game.

Because of local noise ordinances, the Towson PA system must be shut off by 10 p.m., but the lights and facility may stay open as long as needed. As long as both teams are still willing to take the field once conditions are deemed safe, the game may start, regardless of the time, said Eichelberger.

So potentially, we may have midnight madness lacrosse here folks. No updates have been provided about the status of the WBAL+ broadcast, or if a new cut off time has been established. IL had previous heard that if the game is not played tonight, it will not be rescheduled, but with both teams apparently aiming to get this one in regardless of start time, that may now be a nonissue.

Stay tuned as we will continue to keep our audience abreast of the situation at Stevenson.

Follow Kate Klots' In Game Blog for more developments and eventual game coverage.

UPDATE: The pregame clock has just been reset to 12:00 in counting for when the teams will be allowed to take the field. So barring another lightning delay, the teams will be given roughly 15 minutes to warm up, and then the game will start. Right now the starting time is planned for 9:45 p.m.

UPDATE #2: The teams have taken the field; the warm up music is playing. They are looking to get going at 9:45. Looks like we'll get this one in despite the weather and logistics.